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Henri Lloyd continue their support of Yachtsman of the Year, Geoff Holt Posted by admin on 12.04.11

Henri Lloyd have very great pride in their associations with exceptional individuals and are delighted to announce their continued support of Yachtsman of the Year, Geoff Holt. Building on their existing relationship with the quadriplegic sailor, Henri Lloyd has entered into a Performance Clothing Partnership with Holt which will continue throughout 2011.

Holt will be wearing a range of technical clothing including the Atmosphere 3 base layer, Eco fleece mid-layer and the Octane wind-stopper jacket. As a result of his disability, he is unable to control his body temperature so it is vital he remains warm and dry at all times, but without overheating which can be as dangerous as getting too cold. Holt used a similar three-layer system to great effect for his record-breaking, 109 day circumnavigation of Great Britain in 2007. His sailing plans for 2011 are many and varied, from racing in the Solent to cruising in the Caribbean. The year will also see him start training for his next major project, a World Tour, circumnavigating the globe in an 80ft catamaran.

Henri Lloyd has five decades of experience in the manufacture of technical marine clothing, and prides themselves on their innovative designs and use of pioneering fabrics.

Henri Lloyd’s involvement with Holt goes back to 1992, when he became the first disabled person to sail around the Isle of Wight; Holt was supported by Henri Lloyd then and again in 1997 when he repeated the challenge. More than 10 years on, Holt has accomplished a solo navigation of Britain and more recently sailed single-handed across the Atlantic in the specially adapted 60ft catamaran, Impossible Dream. Since completing his solo challenge, Holt continues to push his boundaries and is a tremendous ambassador for sailing. In the 1990’s Holt was the inaugural chairman of

RYA Sailability and during the decade of his involvement, the charity raised £2 million, establishing over 150 groups and clubs across the UK. In 2010 he was awarded the MBE in the Queens Birthday Honours for “Services to disabled sailing” and he won the prestigious Yachtsman of the Year award voted for by the Yachting Journalists Association.

Commenting on the partnership, International Marketing Director of Henri Lloyd, David Peach said: “Geoff Holt is a brave adventurer who loves to tackle projects that no one else will, therefore it is natural for us to continue our many areas of support of him. We are very proud to be continuing the close relationship we have built up over many years”.

Holt added: “I’m obviously delighted. Henri Lloyd have supported me ever since my first sailing adventure in 1992, and they have been there for me and supported me at every project since. I feel a tremendous loyalty to their brand and to their people. With the added bonus of having great clothing which perform a first-class technical job; it’s an ideal relationship. I’m not planning any offshore events this year so my requirements are for light, but warm and dry, layers and I’m looking forward to getting on the water and giving it a thorough test”.